Guilt Free Carrot Raisin "Cookies"

 

After a season of holiday eating, aren't we all looking for ways to curve the post Christmas sweet tooth? Pies, cherry delights, thumbprint cookies with strawberry jam...the list goes on. It's really amazing how much food one can manage to eat in a two day period.

Recently Mother Judith made some paleo cookies, and to my surprise they were really delicious! You almost don't miss those buttery cookies when eating them (almost, not saying you won't still crave thumbprint cookies).

If you're new to paleo cookies (like us), there is nothing to fear. They are quite delightful!

Not a bit of guilt can be found while eating these treats!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup walnuts or almonds soaked for 6-8 hours
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 10 dates, pitted
• 1/2 cup unsweetened dried coconut, plus extra
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375°. Shred carrots in food processor, set aside. 

Place soaked walnuts or almonds (drained) in food processor and shred. Add dates and blend.

Almonds after soaking

After the almonds were shredded.

Add remaining ingredients (except raisins) and mix until completely blended. Then add raisin and combine in batter.

After blending.

Using a tablespoon, scoop batter onto well greased cookie sheet. Optional, top cookies with dried coconut. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Let cool for a bit, then serve with a hot cup of Chai Green Tea.

Nancy Jane

Caramel Filled Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Cookie

By the amount of ingredients listed in the title, you know it's going to be good. I've made them for a Bible study group, and they were a hit!

Inspired by a television show, How I Met Your Mother, I decided these cookies needed to be made. The character, lovingly dubbed as "The Mother", offers another character some cookies. They are named something a little unsavory, however, the way she described the pastry made me want to devour them.

This is my interpretation of the delicious inspiration; hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Whole wheat flour is used in this recipe. It can easily be interchanged with white flour, however, I found the whole wheat added a unique flavor to it (and you can tell yourself it's healthier while you eat it...guilt free cookies! Haha)

While at Target, I discovered these lovely little guys; milk chocolate chips with caramel in the center. They work great for the recipe! Any brand of peanut butter chips will work, I grabbed Reese's because they were on sale...

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Mix together:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) of soft butter
• 1 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 eggs

Mix until creamy, then add:

• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Mix, then add:

• 2 cups of Whole Wheat Flour or White Flour

After fully combined add:

• 9 ounce bag of caramel chocolate chips
• 8 ounces, or 1 cup, of Peanut butter chips

Once fully mixed together, scoop tablespoon size balls onto a well greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Careful not to over bake the cookies, they are not as flavorful when over done.

Once cooled, serve with coffee or an ice cold cup of milk. These are great to eat in front of a warm fire place with your favorite hot drink.

The cookies will surely be a hit! I'm not making them for a while purely because I can't stop eating them!! Hope you enjoy them as much as my taste buds did!

Nancy Jane

Two Faced Cookie!

Oh you two faced cookie, why are you so sweet?!

So buttery, sugary, and chocolaty, double chocolaty. And chock full of nuts!

A cookie with two delicious personalities! One chocolate chip, the other double chocolate chip! You will not be able to pick a side because you will love each one equally.

If there is a need to feed a bunch of men, I highly recommend these cookies. 9 out of 10 men loved them. My dad was the only one who didn't, but that was because Snickerdoodles were available and those are his favorite. So out of default we did not get that 10th approval. However, he did enjoy them.

Recipe:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 bag of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl beat butter, both sugars and vanilla extract. Add eggs and beat again. Add flour mixture, chocolate chips, and nuts to this bowl and mix until well combined.

Now separate the cookie dough into two different bowls. Add cocoa powder to only one bowl. Mix until fully combined. The mixture might be thicker than other dough, this is fine.

 

Prepare a cookie sheet, scoop 1/2 teaspoon sized ball onto sheet of tan mixture, then black mixture next to it.

 

Lightly squeeze together.

 

Then repeat!

 

 

Place in oven and let cook for ten to twelve minutes.

When finished, let cool. Then enjoy!

Nancy Jane